Its Not The Singer....Its The Song!

Yours truly -  taken during photographic tests for Shin Gi Tai

Since my new book hit the shops in North America last month, I've had a fair amount of feedback from people who have found it worth the read. Not because they have agreed with everything I've had to say, on the contrary, but because they have used the book as I intended it to be used: as a point of departure for self exploration. For those who have not yet read it, but are thinking of doing so, please remember why it was written, and when you come across a passage that you completely disagree with, and believe me - you will, don't let that distract you from using the book as it was intended: to give rise to your own thoughts and feelings.

A small number of errors have found their way into the book. A matter of some concern for the editor and me, as we worked extremely hard to fix them before going to print. But, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, as they say; and the chain on this, and my previous book, has contained a link that neither I nor my editors were able to replace. For those who have taken the time to write to me, pointing out the errors they have discovered, I thank you for your time. You might have put all that energy and effort to better use in the dojo of course, but still, I guess it's good that your vigilance, at least in some quarters, hasn't diminished.

Although no one writer to date has informed me of every error I know of in the book, only one person has informed me of an error I was unaware of. A number of people have insisted I'm wrong on several points....interestingly, the number one "clarification" in the correspondence so far has been to point out that "god is real"......ok, have it your way! I expect god feels much better knowing there are people out there willing to defend her existence; and I for one would not dream of denying anyone the right to believe in such beings. Nevertheless, I have to say, I found the comment in one email, "The difference between good and god, is zero" a little hard to stomach, and found myself reaching for a bucket!!! Statements like that do little to enhance a particular point of view.

Look.....like the book or hate it, but if you don't use it as intended than you've missed the point. It's the song that's important here, not the singer: the message, not the messenger. Take the information, establish your own position in relation to it, and then draw your own conclusions. I'm grateful to all those who have written, regardless of what you have had to say, but please, try not to loose sight of why I wrote the book in the first place. I'm told a second print run is likely early in the New Year. The errors that found their way on to the page will be removed before the second printing, after that, I'm hoping any correspondence I receive concerning the book will focus less on who's opinions are more valid, and more on how your training is going!